Introduction to shipping

Types of containers:

Types of vessels:
SHIP TYPES
Main dimensions and descriptions:-
Dry Trades: Liner Trades - conventional tween decker, multi-purpose vessel,
Containership, Ro/Ro cargo, barge carriers
Tramp Trades - conventional bulk vessel (handy size, panamax, capesize)
Ore carriers; combination carriers (ore/oil, ore/bulk/oil),
Refrigerated ships.
Wet Trades: Crude (ULCC, VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax) Product
Carrier; chemical carrier; gas carriers; specialist vessels

General Cargo Vessels-General cargo vessels are the most basic dry cargo carrying
vessel; they are used to carry loose and irregular cargo which is not suitable for
container, Ro-Ro, bulk or specialist heavy lift vessels

Container Vessels -Container ships transport an estimated 52% of all global ocean
trade and are specifically designed to transport ISO standardized shipping
containers, these include 10, 20, 40 & 45ft standard containers, high-cube
containers, open-top containers, flat rack

RO-RO Vessels- RO-RO or roll-on/roll-off vessels are ships designed to carry

wheeled cargo, they come in different forms depending on the need, including
vehicle ferries, cargo vessels (which are used for truck trailers, railroad cars etc)
and car carriers which are the most prominent

Bulk Carriers- Bulk carriers are used to transport loose dry cargoes such as ore,
grains and cement which often have a high weight to cost ratio making ocean
transportation by other methods / vessel types inefficient

Crude Carriers- Crude oil carriers are designed (as the name suggests) to transport
crude oil to refineries where it can be processed. Very Large Crude Carriers
(VLCCs) and Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) are the largest ships in the
world
Product Carriers- Product carriers are much like crude carriers but generally
smaller, they are used to transport refined products from larger terminals to smaller
ports located worldwide

Liquefied Gas Carriers- Liquefied gas carriers are highly specialized vessels which
are used to transport Liquefied Natural Gas (LGN) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG). The cargo is stored within spherical tanks under high pressure and often at
low temperatures.

Chemical Carriers- Chemical carriers are used for the transportation of a whole
range of chemicals, which each have different properties, characteristics and
inherit hazards.

Tug Vessels- Tugs are highly maneuverable and powerful vessels which are used
to assist larger and less maneuverable vessels.

Ship Owning:
The Ship-owner
The ship-owner is the person who equips a ship (also fits out a ship), provides her
with the necessary provisions and crew and runs or operates her. Ship-owners are
distinguished by the type of operations in which they are engaged.

A ship-owner who is engaged in the transportation of goods and/or passengers is

simply called an “owner”; One who operates a fishing vessel or fishing boat (or a
fishing fleet) is called a “fishing boat owner”; one who operates a towing service is
called a “tug boat owner”, etc.
 The owner may or may not be the proprietor of the vessel; he may command the
ship himself or entrust it to a master who is at his service.
When a person who fits out and operates a ship, is also the proprietor of it, he is
called “owner”. Usually a ship (and certainly several ships), will not be owned by a
single person (because of the large investment required) but it will be owned by a
group of persons (or enterprises such as banks and the like) who form a company
or partnership. A company or partnership that fits and operates ships is called a
“shipping company”.

The person who hires a ship (or several ships) in bareboat charter or in time charter
is called a “disponent owner”. If the commercial operation of the ship is entrusted
to a managing company, than the manager is called “managing owner”.
The “charterer” is the person or the company who hires the ship. The charterer may
consequently be the importer, the exporter or even be an owner already.
The Shipbroker
The shipbroker is an intermediary who, in the tramping, takes care of the hiring of
a ship either in time charter or in voyage charter.

The shipbroker, who is appointed by an owner, must ensure that the ships from his
principal are continuously employed for the highest possible freight. According to
the position of the ship, he will look for a suitable cargo
The chartering broker (also called freight broker or cargo broker) is the counterpart
of the shipbroker.

Ship Management:

Ship management, as the name suggests, deals with the process of managing a
ship. Ship management is done by independent companies which use ships of some
other companies or independent owners. The ship management company manages
ships for the owner and pays him the yearly amount which is settled between the
owner and the ship management company.
Responsibilities of a ship management company:
 The ship management company should do the supervision of the
maintenance of machinery on board the ship. The process should also
include different surveys and repair work of the ship.

 The ship management company should provide adequate crew for manning
the ship.

 The company should arrange for loading and unloading of the cargo.

 The ship management company can hire the ship on behalf of the ship
owner.

 The company should negotiate the contracts for bunker and lube oil.

 The ship management company pays the expenses on behalf of the owner.

 The ship management company should make an arrangement for the entry of
the ship in the P&I (Protection and Indemnity) association.

 The company also deals with various claims related to insurance, salvage
etc.

 The ship management company should arrange for the insurance in relation
to the ship.
 The ship management company’s services also include arrangement for
providing victualling and stores for the crew of the ship.